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Chris Taylor being out of the Dodgers lineup on Tuesday was foretold, after he left Monday’s game with a bone bruise in his left knee. But an unexpected absence in the middle game against the Pirates is catcher Will Smith, out of the lineup for a second straight day.
Just a precaution, says manager Dave Roberts.
Will Smith is battling a right pectoral issue. Dave Roberts said the team is just being cautious. He’ll play one of the next couple games
— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) May 10, 2022
It’s the first time Austin Barnes has caught consecutive games this season. He’s in the lineup batting ninth.
Dodgers-Pirates lineups
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Pirates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Pirates |
| RF | Betts | LF | Gamel (L) |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | CF | Reynolds (S) |
| SS | Turner | 3B | Hayes |
| 2B | Muncy (L) | DH | Vogelbach (L) |
| 3B | Turner | 1B | Tsutsugo (L) |
| CF | Bellinger (L) | SS | Castillo |
| DH | Ríos (L) | RF | Suwinski (L) |
| LF | Lux (L) | C | Perez (L) |
| C | Barnes | 2B | Tucker (S) |
Also in the lineup is Edwin Ríos, who homered as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning Monday night. It’s the first start for Ríos in thirteen days. Not coincidentally, the Dodgers are facing a right-handed pitcher (Bryse Wilson) for only the second time since then. Tuesday snaps a string of seven straight left-handed starting pitchers against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, hitting .220/.303/.345 with a 92 wRC+ that ranks 22nd among major league teams. By contrast, the Dodgers are hitting .244/.332/.403 against righties, with a 117 wRC+ that is fourth in MLB.
Only four teams (Astros, Twins, Braves, Rangers) have faced left-handed starting pitchers more times than the Dodgers, though Los Angeles is 9-2 in those games. It helps having the stingiest pitching staff in baseball.
Tony Gonsolin takes the mound on Tuesday for the Dodgers, after Monday’s 5-1 loss marked just the fifth time in 27 games this season LA has allowed more than three runs in a game.
Game info
- Teams: Dodgers (19-8) at Pirates (12-16)
- Pitchers: Tony Gonsolin vs. Bryse Wilson
- Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- Time: 3:35 p.m. PT
- TV: SportsNet LA
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